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Girls win Falcon Classic

"Wick, Ellis pace scoring for South Whidbey Photo:Falcon Sierra Tornga leaves defenders in the dust for an easy two points against Anacortes in the Falcon Classic championship game. She scored 10 points and pulled down 7 rebounds against the Seahawks. Jim Larsen / staff photoThe Falcon girls basketball team used four even quarters of basketball Thursday to win the Falcon Classic basketball tournament with a win over Anacortes.Paced by Hilary Wicks 14 points and Kelsey Ellis 13, the Falcons rang the Seahawks bell to the tune of 54-47.But it was much more than scoring that put South Whidbey over top in the game. Solid rebounding by Wick and Sierra Tornga, and seven Ellis steals suppressed Anacortes big shooters until the final quarter, when even a 20-11 Anacortes run and 11 points from Seahawk Laura Moore could not close the gap for the visitors.Falcon coach Nancy Ricketts said both her team and the visitors played all out for the tournament championship.Anacortes is definitely a better team than Lynnwood, Ricketts said, alluding to the Falcons first tourney opponent.After scoring just five points in the first five minutes of Wednesdays first-round game against Lynnwood, the Falcons decided the didnt like slow starts. South Whidbeys 17-12 first quarter Thursday was exactly what the team needed to dominate the Seahawks.Although the Falcons will not play Anacortes or Lynnwood again this season, Ricketts said the tournament was a good tune up as South Whidbey hits the heart of its season. It gave her starters and bench players the playing time they need before taking on tougher teams, as they will in Fridays road game against Meridian.Were playing better basketball than we were at the beginning of the season, Ricketts said.The home tournament win was a welcome holiday gift for the team. Last year, the Falcons lost the tournaments championship game to Oak Harbor. South Whidbey is now 7-1 overall.BOX SCORESouth Whidbey17 14 12 11 -- 54Anacortes 12 6 9 20 -- 47 Scoring: Wick 14, Ellis 13, Tornga 10, Waterman 10, Sievers 5, Poolman 23-point goals: Sievers 1Rebounds: Wick 9, Tornga 7Steals: Ellis 7"

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